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Eshan Malinga vs Nicholas Pooran — IPL 2026 Fantasy Cricket Stats Comparison
Eshan Malinga (Sunrisers Hyderabad) averages 52 fantasy pts per match. Nicholas Pooran (Lucknow Super Giants) averages 49 fantasy pts. Full IPL stats & fantasy cricket comparison: batting, bowling, fielding, and form.
Full season · batting · bowling · fielding · MOTM · form
Eshan Malinga vs Nicholas Pooran — Stat Comparison Table
Head-to-head numbers at a glance. Higher value is highlighted in green (lower is better for economy and bowling/batting averages).
| Statistic | Eshan Malinga | Nicholas Pooran |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 20 | 20 |
| Avg fantasy points | 52 | 49 |
| Best fantasy score | 159 | 157 |
| Runs | 9 | 433 |
| Strike rate | 64.3 | 151.9 |
| Fours | 0 | 27 |
| Sixes | 0 | 34 |
| Half-centuries (50+) | 0 | 3 |
| Highest score | 5 | 63 |
| Wickets | 28 | 0 |
| Economy rate | 8.98 | 0.00 |
| Best spell (wkts) | 4 | 0 |
| Catches | 4 | 14 |
| Total dismissals | 5 | 19 |
| Statistic | Eshan Malinga | Nicholas Pooran |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 11 | 105 |
| Runs | 5 | 2177 |
| Batting average | 5.00 | 25.31 |
| Strike rate | 50.0 | 134.8 |
| Half-centuries (50+) | 0 | 12 |
| Wickets | 9 | 0 |
| Bowling average | 34.67 | — |
| Economy rate | 9.22 | — |
Eshan Malinga vs Nicholas Pooran is one of the most searched cricket comparisons, combining international career stats with IPL fantasy data. Both players bring different strengths to your XI, and the right choice can be the difference between topping the leaderboard or missing out.
Eshan Malinga is a specialist bowler for Sunrisers Hyderabad, priced at 9 Cr this season. Over 20 matches in IPL 2026, he has scored a total of 1034 fantasy points, averaging 52 pts per game with a best of 159 pts. With the bat he has accumulated 9 IPL runs at a strike rate of 64.3, and has claimed 28 IPL wickets with an economy of 8.98. He has won Man of the Match 1 time this season.
International career: Eshan Malinga has scored 5 T20I runs in 11 matches at an average of 5.00 internationally. He has also taken 9 T20I wickets at an average of 34.67 with an economy of 9.22.
Nicholas Pooran is a wicket-keeper batter for Lucknow Super Giants, priced at 9.5 Cr. Across 20 matches in IPL 2026, he has earned 979 fantasy points, averaging 49 pts per game with a best of 157 pts. He has scored 433 IPL runs at a strike rate of 151.9. He has won 1 MOTM award this season.
International career: Nicholas Pooran has scored 2,177 T20I runs in 105 matches at an average of 25.31, with 12 half-centuries internationally. In ODIs, he has 1,829 runs across 57 matches (avg 38.9).
Batting edge: Nicholas Pooran leads with the bat this season, making them the better pick if the pitch is expected to be batting-friendly or if the match is being played on a flat track.
Bowling edge: Eshan Malinga has been the more impactful bowler in IPL 2026, and becomes especially valuable in conditions that offer pace or spin movement.
Fantasy Impact: From a pure fantasy perspective, Eshan Malinga is the stronger pick right now with an average of 52 pts per game and a best score of 159 pts. The value-for-money metric (points per credit) further reinforces this — always check this number before finalising your captain or vice-captain choice.
Captaincy Recommendation: Based on IPL 2026 season form, Eshan Malinga is the safer captaincy option. However, if the opposition's bowling or batting lineup suits the other player, consider rotating your captain pick. Always check the playing XI, pitch report, and toss result before locking in your captain.
Stats are updated after every IPL 2026 match. Compare more players using our Player Comparison Tool or check the Fantasy Leaderboard to see how top managers are building their teams.
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